On the planet of Amphibia, the inhabitants were preparing for bed as the sun had set hours ago. The winter months always drained the day of it's light. Only leaving few with the rare chance to see three shooting stars streak across the night sky. Rather than vanish, they continued to fall until three shattering booms could be heard for miles.
Deep within the swamp and marshes a large crater had punched a whole through the mud and plant life. In it's center lied the battered remains of an arvus lighter. The sturdy Imperial vessel had managed to survive planet fall, but the tip laid mostly buried in the earth. The cockpit smashed to pieces while one of the wings and engines had been torn off. Inside, the occupants weren't fairing much better from the rough landing. Groans of pain and discomfort coming from the armsmen that acted as escorts for the Rogue Trader. Anne herself was feeling her skull rattled from the collision with the ground, releasing the locks on her seat so she could tentatively stand up. With her legs in working order, she turns her attention to the armsmen.
"Get up, the Emperor hasn't claimed us yet." She helps those struggling to remove the safety locks. "Status on the pilot?"
"Gone, ma'am." One of the armsmen speaks up, a thumb pointing to the cockpit door filled with earth and debris. No one could survive that.
"We'll be joining him soon enough if we can't get this door open." Spoke another, her helmet set on the floor as she digs around in an open panel of wires.
"Bust it down if you have to." Anne commands. Taking the brief moment to check over the heavy laspistol and sword at her hips. The battery remains undamaged along with the spares she has stashed in her coat. Her sword still in one piece despite the crash. Though when checking on her vox-caster, all she could get back was static. Her thoughts on how the other transports fared were broken when the arvus door swung open with a heavy thud.
"Thank the Throne!" A young man shouts as he quickly jumps out. Leaning over and emptying the contents of his stomach into the mud.
"Get back here!" Shouted the most senior of them all, a veteran with a few long scars marking his face. "You don't know what's out there, this could be a hostile planet!" A lasgun held tightly to his person while eyes scanned the area.
"You worry too much, you old feth." The youth wipes the bile from his mouth. "Crash probably scared off everything for mi-"
Anne froze as the young man's voice is abruptly cut off. From the view of the door, he had simply vanished from the spot. She draws her laspistol and motions for the armsmen to form up. Weapons ready, her and the seven others made their way outside. What Anne saw chilled her to the bone.
It had been hidden in their blind spot to the right of the crash, nearly blending into the darkness with it's black chitin carapace. A large insectoid with a pair of jagged scythes had ambushed the poor unsuspecting human. It's jagged maw currently chewing into the bleeding neck of the youth as he twitched. Anne wasn't sure if she gave the order, but she was the first one to start the cascade of lasers. The beast letting out a roar and dropping it's meal to deal with the retaliation from the little humans. With lightning fast reflexes, a serrated talon reaches out and snatches up another arsmen. Anne could only watch as the body is tossed aside like a child's toy before the monster finally relents under the lasgun fire. Scurrying up the side of the crater and into the night with a few burning holes in it's armor.
The encounter ended as quickly as it started, leaving them all shaken up at their encounter with the mega fauna. Anne was quick to collect her wits, keeping her laspistol in hand just in case as she takes command. "Emmanter, go help them up." She points to the armsmen who had taken a short flying lesson thanks to the mantis beast. "The rest of you, gather whatever supplies we have. We need to find the others or until reinforcements arrive from the Stormheart. Sooner we find Marcy and Sasha the better." Her escort replying with a salute before scrambling back into the wreckage. With lumens equipped and weapons held close, Anne and her armsmen took their first steps into the forest.
A week later and the staunch band of eight had been reduced to one. Whatever planet they decided to crash land on was starting to feel like a Death World. Anne's armsmen were slowly picked off one by one by not only the fauna but the flora as well. From gargantuan snakes lurking in the waters to man eating plants that snatched their victims when they least expect it. Strange combinations of mammals and bugs were by far the most bizarre. Snickering bee hounds had managed to separate and maul the last human face Anne might ever see. Urging her to keep going as he acted as bait. For her first ever expedition everything had gone terribly wrong and now Anne was alone on a hostile planet living in a small cave she managed to squeeze into. During an attempt to forage for food, she finally heard something akin to civilization. Humming and the sound of an instrument.
Anne wasn't sure who could live on this backwater planet, so she approached with caution. Unable to make out the person's features in the dead of night with only the light dim of mushrooms illuminating them. They seemed short, akin to that of a Ratling, and wore some well-worn atire. A snap of a twig alerted them to the Rogue Trader stalking them in the tall grass and reeds. "Who's there?" The figure called out. Low gothic with an accent, but understandable! Confirming her theory that they had to be from a lost colony of Ratlings from before the Great Crusade, Anne broke the tree line an approached. Only for her stride to stop and her confusion grow with a good look at the being. Blue skin with webbed hands and feet along with a single squinted eye. Though it looked human in shape, too many features screamed alien or mutant to Anne.
The amphibian looking creature was shocked himself. A towering beast with a huge head and foliage filled hair had just charged at him in the dark of night. Holding up his hands in fear to defend himself as he starts to scream. "No, no, no, no, noooooo!" Before Anne could get another word in, the one eyed vagrant made his escape. Anne decided against pursuing him, the darkness would only slow her down and draw her away from the only sheltered she had manage to find. Slinking back to her cave, Anne tore into a bland ration bar. Her thoughts wandering to the encounter mere moments ago. Curious about the amphibian and his origins.
The sun was bright and shining, bathing the valley in it's warmth along with the tiny village of Wartwood. Various frogs of sizes and colors were getting their morning started. Signs being turned over to open, goods being delivered on time to various homes, stands for various farmers being set up to peddle the day's harvest. Another peaceful day if it weren't for a one eyed blue frog shouting frantically through the town square. "Monster! There's a monster in the woods! A monster, I seen it!" He was flailing his arms for added effect. Drawing in a crowd of various frogs and a posh dressed toad.
"Simmer down now Wally, just tell us what ya saw." The toad managing to clam down the vagrant enough to explain and not cause a panic among the townsfolk.
"Oh it was horrifying! He had a huge head, a little stubby bump right in the middle of his face, and long spindly legs!" Wally's hands and arms doing their best to replicate the features for the gathered frogs. Each description more terrifying than the last for the simple country folk.
"C'mon now people, we've lived here for ages and we got procedures for this!" The crowd chatting amongst themselves as the toad brought up a good point.
"Rest assure that Mayor Toadstool cares for your safety! Toadie!" The Mayor points to the small, sharply dressed frog. "Rally the militia! We can't let this beast hurt somebody! I'll lead the hunt myself!" The crowd of frogs cheering and clapping for Mayor Toadstool and his bravery. "Meet back in an hour!" The assigned militia frogs salute and scramble back to their homes to prepare.
One wore a look of excitement, a little pink frog rushing back to a stand hopping wildly as he shouts. "Hop Pop, Hop Pop, did ya hear? Wally says there's some hideous new beast out in the woods! Do you think it had something to do with the shooting stars? They're forming up the militia, can I go? Please, please, please!"
The rapid fire chatter is quieted with an orange hand clasping over the young frog's mouth. "Woah, slow your snails, Sprig." Hop Pop sighed.
"I can't have ya go wanderin' off in the woods lookin' for monsters when the day's just started! We got a job to do, and it's to sell these vegetables to these hungry frogs." Using a rag, Hop Pop polishes a squash to a shine. "Ah dang, forgot the rutabagas at home."
"I'll get them!" Sprig shouts. "You just rest those old legs of yours, Hop Pop, and let reliable Sprig go in your place!" He was making a good argument, one that Hop Pop couldn't deny.
"Alright fine, but you come straight back. Ya hear me?" Hop Pop giving Sprig the accusatory stink eye just to make sure his threat hits home.
"You got it!" With a quick hop, the small pink frog races down the dirt trail back to their house.
After the exchange, a magenta pollywog in a bucket turns to her grandfather. "You know he's just gonna go out into the woods looking for that monster, right?" She asks.
"And betray my trust just like that? Never." Hop Pop was shocked that sweet Polly could ever suggest such a thing! Only earning a glare from his granddaughter and a roll of her eyes.
Sprig was surprised how easy it was to convince Hop Pop! He felt a little bad doing so, but he'll come up with a way to make it up to the old frog. His curiosity was just too much to handle! Hopping through the forest, trusty sling shot by his side as Sprig scanned his surroundings. If the monster was spotted by Wally, then it couldn't be that deep in the woods. Sticking to the outskirts of the village, Sprig searched for clues of it's whereabouts. "Hhmmm, aha! It went this way!" The trampled grass and broken foliage was a dead giveaway that something had passed through the area. It also managed to hide the snare that Sprig unwittingly stepped on. "Woah!" Sprig's entire world goes upside down as he's hoisted up by his leg.
Despite the blood rushing to his head, Sprig went to work trying to undo the rope. Oddly enough, it was tough like iron. The current escape attempt is halted with the sounds of footsteps just beyond the tall grass. "Someone there? I'm warning you, I taste terrible!"
Eyes dart about in a panic, Sprig's hands still struggling with the tether in vain as the footsteps draw closer and closer. Finally getting a good look at his assailant, he lets out a gasp.
"Big head, face bump, spindly legs. The beast!" What stood before Sprig was even more hideous than Wally made it out to be! A large mud stained coat covered in gashes rest on their shoulders. Their hair looked to be a nest for birds with the amount of twigs and leaves gathered in the brown locks. Bags under their eyes from a lack of sleep, giving them a crazed look as a sword is pointed at him.
"Do you...understand me?" The beast spoke, their accent hard to pin point, but definitely not from around Frog Valley.
"Well, yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" Sprig responds back, hands on his hips as he continues to hang. "Wally never mentioned you could talk when you tried to eat him."
Even upside down, Sprig could see the look of annoyance on the creature before him. "Eat him? I couldn't get a word out before he ran off screaming. I should be worried about one of you eating me." The sword tip now pressing against Sprig's chest. Before the metal could take the plunge, a bellowing roar fills the area.
Fear on both of their faces as the beast mumbles to herself. "It's coming." Without hesitation, she takes off into the brush. Leaving a squirming Sprig to fend for himself.
"Hey, c'mon. You can't just leave me like this!" Trying to appeal to the monster's softer side doesn't seem to be getting him very far as Sprig tugs at the tether. Heavy stomps draw in closer to the clearing, revealing the source to be a green mantis. Hop Pop told him that the mantis in the woods get more riled up as winter draws near. Sprig was about to get a first hand experience as it slowly crept forward. A scythe forearm raised up high to disembowel the helpless frog child. Sprigs eyes screw shut, not wanting to witness his own death but it doesn't come quick enough. In fact, the mantis seems to be letting out a cry of pain.
The sight that awaits Sprig when he peeks is of the beast! Though the mantis towered over her, the sword she wield had struck it in the abdomen clean through. It was unable to twist itself far back enough to strike back, retreating back as the sword rent a gash oozing with ichor.
Sprig could only watch in awe as they charged at the mantis with a war cry, sword swinging to lop off a leg. Stunning the insect for only a moment before a forearm rends against the side of his savior. Knocking her into a bush with a grunt of pain. A mantis' claws can easily rend a frog in two, but the creature stands with another tear in her coat. Pulling a strange boxy item from her hip, she takes aim with it before a bolt of red light nearly blinds Sprig. A charred hole in the thorax of the mantis before another flash. Sprig could hear the popping of the eye as it rapidly heats up followed by a mighty crash. Leaving only the stranger holding her weapons and panting from exertion.
There was no time for celebration as they stomped closer to the hanging frog. Arm drawn back to strike!
"Wait, wait, wait, wait!" Sprig begged, but it was too late. With a swift swing, the tether holding his leg was easily severed. Dropping him to the ground in a heap before he could stand. Patting himself down as he couldn't believe he had survived the encounter without a scratch on him. "You saved my life! Wally was wrong, you're not some wild beast.
You're a hero! An ugly ugly hero!" The corpse of the mantis nearby was proof enough.
"Don't make me regret helping you." A scowl on her face as she holsters her weapon, the sword still firmly in her grasp. "You have a name, kid?"
"Sprig Plantar, at your service!" He responds with a shout and a bow. "What about you, stranger?"
"I am Rogue Trader Annelisa Savisa Boonchuy of House Boonchuy." A moment of silence passes between the two as Sprig tries to process the strange sounding name and lengthy title. "Just Anne is fine."
"Pleased to meet ya, Anne!" A pink webbed hand is held out in front of Anne. She doesn't seem to thrilled, but her lessons in diplomacy have taught her to never turn down a handshake. Regret is evident on her features as Anne's hand is coated with slime. Sprig only smiling after the friendly gesture, none the wiser.
"Oh my frog, I befriended the beast! I have so many questions for you! What are you, where did you come from, how did you get here, what's with that light box, what's a Rogue Trader?" The young frog boy barely sucking in air before Anne cuts him off.
"Firstly, I'm a human from beyond the stars!" A bit of dramatic flare as she swings her arm out. Sprig's pupils growing twice their normal size in amazement. A growing grin finally showing on Anne's face as she continues. "I was stranded here when my landing ship went haywire while in atmosphere. There were others but...I fear I may be the only one left." A week on this planet and it's the first time she's wondered about Sasha or Marcy's well-being. They could easily handle themselves, but the survival rate of her armsmen makes her think otherwise.
Sprig could easily see the worry on Anne's face. Comforting her with a pat to the leg. "Hey, don't worry. I'm sure we can find the rest of your friends in no- Oh frog, you're bleeding!" Being so close, Sprig can spot the hole torn by the mantis is now leaking crimson onto her coat.
"What?" Anne lifts her arm to check, her armor had taken the brunt of the damage along with her coat's padding. But the mantis scythe had managed to tear into the flesh of her ribs. "Throne, damn it." She curses, finally registering the pain and discomfort as she turns to leave. Back to the cave she's been calling home.
Sprig is left standing awkwardly by himself. Not sure if he should follow her or let her be on her way. He was about to return to Wartwood before Anne turns to address him. "You coming? Thought you had questions." With a smile, he hops after her.
The trip back to the cave had been filled with the constant back and forth between Anne and Sprig. She explained to him what it meant to be a Rogue Trader, to be tasked by the Emperor of Mankind himself thousands of years ago to explore and rediscover lost planets and systems for the Imperium. That had only sparked more questions from the little frog boy, making her glad she had been able to stay awake long enough during her own lessons. The laspistol she carried was of special interest to him. Calling it the "Red Flash Box" and begging to inspect it. Obviously keeping it away from him for fear of a misfire. Anne had managed to pry some information out of Sprig as well, learning of Wartwood that lie just South of her position. As well as the strange race of humanoid frogs that inhabit the valley.
The sun was high in the sky, making Anne grateful for the shade of the cave when they finally reached it. Even with the supplies lost in the crash and the frantic survival of the wilderness, Anne had managed to save one medi-kit to use. The diagnostor luckily revealed no signs of serious infection or poison from the mantis. After removing her coat and armor, Anne goes to work disinfecting and stitching up her wound.
Sprig is left to look around the cave, a soot covered fire pit in the center along with a sleeping bag. Various wrappers left around in a mess, clearly Anne didn't care for cleaning up after herself. "Wow, you've been living like this for a week? What have you been eating?"
"I only found this cave a few days ago." A snip and her wound is sealed up. "Been going off rations so far, but the taste starts to drive you crazy after a while. Was hoping to catch something with more flavor before you stepped into my snare."
"Sorry about that, still not gonna eat me right?" Sprig asks as Anne's face only darkens in the dimly lit cave.
"Hhmm, not sure yet." Her answer only making Sprig sweat nervously before she bursts out into laughter. "I'm kidding!" Reaching over, she gives the pink frog a friendly jab in the arm before she fastens her carapace armor back on. "Good as new."
"That's a relief." Sprig was glad his new human friend was out of danger. But, a certain question was gnawing at him to ask. "So, Anne. Uh, what happened to the other humans you came with?"
Anne's eyes seem to stare off into the distance, cold as she answered. "The other two ships and their crew, I have no idea. The worst I assume, as the armsmen I brought with me have been claimed by the planet. We weren't prepared for a one way trip. My vox-caster hasn't been able to pick up any signal, so I can't even contact the Stormheart. My first exploration away from my parents and it's already gone this fraking bad."
"Hey, you can't give up hope yet." Says Sprig. Only earning a sigh from Anne.
Anne couldn't fault Sprig's optimism. He was young, unaware of the harshness of the galaxy that eats away at such hopeful thinking.
Sprig frowned, not wanting his new friend to just quit just yet! A problem to tackle for another time as Sprig hears something familiar just outside the cave.
"Sprig!"
"Spriiiiig!"
"Oh crud, my family! Hop Pop's gonna be so mad I didn't get the rutabagas and instead came out into the dangerous part of the forest to look for an unknown and potentially high dangerous monster!" Cried Sprig as he tugs on the sides of his cap.
"That sounds bad. Hey, I'm sure I can help explain the situation." Tugging on her coat, Anne begins to crawl out of the cave.
"Thanks, Anne!"
If this 'Hop Pop' was Sprigs guardian, it was in Anne's best interest to chat with him. No doubt this older frog would have more information about the planet than Sprig could ever provide.
With a bit of shouting back and forth, Sprig manages to guide his family to him. Though glad to see him safe, Hop Pop kept Polly at a safe distance once he caught sight of Anne. "Sprig! What are you doin' with that thing! Get over here before it tears your limbs off!" He shouts.
"Yeah, not gonna happen." Anne responds, annoyed. Earning her a shocked look from the older orange frog.
"Cool, it talks!" The bucket bound pollywog shouts with excitement.
"It's okay, she's friendly! Hop Pop, Polly, this is Anne! Anne, this is Polly and our Hop Pop!" Sprig smiles. Introductions are going a lot smoother than he initially thought!
"Sprig look, it's time you say goodbye to your," Hop Pop eyes the strange creature. "Friend and come home! What if the town caught you hanging out with the monster!"
"What are the odds of them finding us this far out in the woods?" Sprig ask, boldly tempting fate to prove him wrong.
"Look, it's the Plantars! They found the monster!" Fate wins this time as various frogs emerge from the trees and shrubbery wielding sharpened pitch forks and patchwork leather armor. Leading them was Mayor Toadstool, the only one with an iron breastplate worn over his chest and a sword at his side. "Don't just stand there, get it!" With the order given the frog aim their makeshift pikes at Anne and close in, surrounding her.
Sprig is helpless to watch, his shouts falling on deaf ears as Anne draws her sword to defend herself. Keeping them at an arm's length as best she could.
Anne didn't want to kill any of the inhabitants, they were her only way of figuring out a plan to get off this planet or contact her ship. But she was prepared to swing to protect herself before a frog leaps at her from behind. The full weight of the amphibian drops Anne to her knees before others take the opportunity to dog pile on her. Anne can feel ropes circle tightly around her body as they restrain her. "Finally, lets get this over with, I wanna be back before lunch."
A path is parted between the frogs from Toadstool and the restrained beast. Taking practice swings with his sword with each step closer. Sprig being unable to breach the crowd of amphibians as the blade was poised to take Anne's head. The motion never carried out as the militia frogs are knocked aside with a blur of red chitin. The commotion had drawn the attention of the most intimidating mantis Anne has seen so far. Bigger than a Leman Russ with jagged protrusions coming off various points on it's body. Typical sharpened mantis claws replaced with meaty blunt weapons, reminding her of various crustaceans.
The toad that was ready to execute Anne was already standing behind his assembled troops. "Drive it away, Mantis formation!" Militia frogs broke into pairs, only confusing the tied up Rogue Trader as one frog would stand on the shoulders of another. Were they trying to make up the height difference? It didn't seem to work as the scarlet bug swatted the amphibians aside like toys. Panic ensues and soon the ranks of the militia were broken. Running in frantic circles much to the annoyance of the mantis.
Within the chaos, Anne had managed to avoid getting trampled by webbed feet. Looking up to find a pink pair of hands tugging at her ropes. "Lovely neighbors you have here." Spite filled Anne's words as she finally stands.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think they'd go that far! I'll distract it while you make an escape!" Sprig leave her no time to argue as he charges at the Mantis! Pulling out his trusty sling shot and launching a rock that collides with it's carapace. "Haha! Uh oh." Sprig's victory is short lived as he hops out of the arc of one of it's club arms.
Another stone is loaded into the sling shot, the high speed projectile scoring a hit that made the insect reel back in pain. The real reason being the freshly charred hole in one of it's arms. Turning around, Sprig spots Anne with her flashing box in her hand. Determination on her face as flashes of light streak over his head.
One could smell the cooking of meat on the wind while the metallic whip crack of Anne's laspistol continued to ring out as the beast was pelted with red fire. With a sharp cry, it charges at the source of it's pain. Both arms raised and narrowly avoided by the Rogue Trader with a quick dash under the overgrown bug. The sharp edge of Anne's blade is plunged into the soft underbelly of the mantis. Leaping out of harm's way before it could stomp her to death in retaliation.
Sprig had used the change in attention to gather up the rope the amphibians had used to tie up Anne. The single line of rope he tossed over the thrashing mantis wouldn't be enough for him to take it down. Before he could reach for the next length of rope, another pair of hands had grabbed hold of it. It was Hop Pop, Polly riding on his head, spry for his age he manages to throw the rope to aid Anne. The militia had finally stopped their panic and assisted the Plantars now that the mantis wasn't focused on them. While Anne was busy running circles to avoid it's swinging arms, the legs were caught in the strong rope. It struggled to escape, the strength in numbers keeping it from fleeing, but it was Anne's final shove into the beast did it start to topple over. Like a red tree it fell, the head of the mantis colliding into the hard ground with a heavy thud. Knocking out the insect, the limp body no longer able to keep itself from being restrained.
Cheers erupted from the gathered group after conquering such a dangerous predator. Frogs already making plans on how to cook it before Mayor Toadstool, who had been absent until now, quelled the celebrations. "With that taken care of, what are we gonna do with this?" Whispers among the amphibians as their mayor gestures to the human in their midst. "I say we at least run it out of town, let it be someone else's problem." The crowd agreed and were already gathering their pitchforks to do just that.
"Oh come on." Anne was already exhausted from having to deal with two mega sized mantis in one day. Her laspistol aiming at the toad barking orders to the mob before a familiar pink figure stands between them.
"Stop! She's not a threat to anyone, she just helped save us!" Sprig shouted, the gathered villagers finally listening to him. "Anne is just someone who is lost, someone who needs our help to get back home!"
Heads turning to one another as Sprig's words manage to change some minds. Until the voice of Wally broke the chatter. "What if she goes nutty and starts eatin' people?"
What is with these talking frogs thinking she was going to eat them? Anne was about to interject before the elder frog stepped in for her.
"I'll keep an eye on her. Both of 'em to make sure they don't cause any more trouble for the town!" Hop Pop declared, a smile shared between him and his grandson.
"Have it your way, Hopediah Plantar!" Mayor Toadstool shouted, arms raised out of frustration. "But I don't like it. Alright boys, pack it in." With a snap of his fingers, the militia frogs gathered their discarded weapons and dinner and took off back to town. Finally leaving the human behind with the frog family that stood up for her.
"Well Sprig, it was reckless of ya to come out here on your own." Hop Pop scolded Sprig. The shame clear on his face and about to apologize before Hop Pop continued. "But standin' up to that mob and doin' what you felt was right was pretty brave. For that, I'm proud of ya."
"That was pretty cool, Sprig." Polly added from atop Hop Pop's head.
"Does that mean I can take off early from watching the stand?" Sprig asked with a grin.
"Don't push your luck." Hop Pop replied coldly.
Anne had finally had enough and spoke up. "Okay, this has been heartwarming but do you have a map or directions to the nearest spaceport or city center? I need to get off this Emperor forsaken world before something else tries to kill me."
Hop Pop scratches at his chin, trying his best to make sense of Anne's words. "Hm, well not sure what a spaceport is, but the closest city would be the capital." Pulling out a map from his vest to show the human. "Map won't do you too good right now, this here valley is surrounded by mountains that are impenetrable this time of year. It'll at least take a month or two for the snow to melt enough for anyone to pass. If you try to leave now,"
"You will die." Polly finishes for Hop Pop.
"Ugh, of course I'm stuck here for even longer!" Anne runs a hand through her hair, disturbing the various leaves and twigs stuck in it. "I can't just live out in this forest for two months, I have to find the rest of my crew! Marcy probably has her vox-caster working again and already called the Stormheart for evac!" The idea of Anne being declared dead and her ship pulling out of the system filled her with dread. Before the panic could escalate in the young woman, she feels a comforting hand on her leg.
Sprig smiled up at her as he spoke. "Since you helped us out, and we sorta volunteered to watch over you, how about you come stay with us? Better than out here, and we'll help in any way we can to get you home with your friends."
The sheer kindness of the young frog was enough to put a smile on Anne's face. "Thanks, Sprig."
"Just don't eat us." Polly says bluntly.
Tender moment now ruined, the Plantars help Anne gather what little was left of her belongings and return to their farm.
Deep in another part of the forest, heavy boots stomped through the mud. Stout, wide figures hacking and slashing their way through the foliage in search of something. Standing on a boulder, a lone figure oversees the search party with a singular eye. His vigil ended when another approaches him, dropping something in his clawed hand. A helmet, but one not native to this planet. Made with materials unknown and sporting a twin headed eagle emblazon in the center. Blood caked and dried on the surface with age.
"There's more of them."